Vidor’s Smallwood won’t play on Thursday

Vidor running back David Smallwood, the team’s second leading rusher with 121 carries for 768 yards, will not play in Thursday’s game against Crosby because of an arm injury.

Should Vidor defeat Crosby, Smallwood will be back for the second-round playoff game.

Smallwood had 21 carries for 182 yards and three touchdowns in Vidor’s final regular season game, a 35-27 win against Livingston.

Mathews says he is not sure how the team will replace Smallwood’s production.

“That is the million dollar question,” Mathews said.

In Smallwood’s absence, Thomas Novak, Smallwood’s backup, will likely play the position.

With all of the shifts and motion in Vidor’s offense, it is hard to teach the position to another player in one week. That’s why the Pirates simply can’t move their best running threat, Montana Quirante, to the position.

Vidor tail back David Bolinger has also been battling an injury and it is still uncertain whether he will play or not, Mathews said.